With its long, curving coastal roads, winding vineyard trails and dead straight tracks cutting through the red dirt, Australia is made for road tripping. Now that most of the country is open to fully vaccinated international travellers at last, it’s time to hit the highway and explore this big and bountiful country. Here are some of the best Australian adventures you can do in a long weekend. Be sure to check entry requirements and local restrictions before booking your trip.

For rolling green mountains laced with hiking and mountain biking trails and criss-crossed with streams and rivers, head south from capital Canberra and cross into the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales. First stop on the roughly four-hour drive is Cooma, the largest town in the mountains, and where you can enjoy for a host of outdoor adventures. Set by a gorgeous lake, Jindabyne is another outdoorsy town where there’s lots of fun to be had. Swap to two wheels and cycle around the Lake Jindabyne Foreshore Trail, go fishing or sign up for caving or rock-climbing tours.

Next up, follow the signs to Thredbo where you can take the chair lift up to Australia’s highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko. Head to the summit trail for dizzying views of Thredbo Valley, then go back down to continue your journey along the Alpine Way. This dramatic stretch of road, with views of snow-capped peaks, high forests and rivers, links the southern reaches of Kosciuszko National Park to Khancoban, near the Victorian border. From here hikes into the high country lie all around: trails to the majestic Western Fall and among the plains and snow gums of the Jagungal Wilderness are highly recommended.

If it’s classic outback scenery you’re after, you won’t want to miss the 705-mile (1,135km) Red Centre Way loop from Alice Springs deep into central Australia’s desert plains, weathered mountain ranges and rocky gorges. You’ll pass some of the country’s most remarkable natural formations with plenty of places to stop off and see them in all their glory. To make the most of this spectacular route hire a four-wheel drive or if not, you can follow the longer but completely sealed 1,087-mile (1,750km) loop.

First up on the dusty road west from Alice Springs are the chasms, gorges and waterholes of Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park, where it's possible to find a spot for a cool dip. Kings Canyon in the Watarrka National Park is up next. Be sure to do the Rim Walk, a spectacular three-hour adventure up and into the canyon’s vast sandstone walls. You’ll have sweeping desert views and can peer into its verdant floor filled with palms and prehistoric cyads. From here it’s 186 miles (300km) to Uluru and Kata Tjuta, both sacred sites to the Anangu people, with a host of stirring walks. Head back east along the Lasseter Highway then north on the Stuart Highway back towards Alice.

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Tropical city Darwin is the gateway to some of the Top End’s most epic landscapes. Immerse yourself in them on the Nature’s Way road trip, best taken over four days. The route strikes southeast from the city along the Arnhem Highway to the vast Kakadu National Park. You could spend endless days here exploring its sandstone escarpments, ogling ancient rock art at Ubirr and Burrungkuy, cruising wildlife-filled wetlands and hiking to see plunging falls and sweeping views across to Arnhem Land.

If you can tear yourself away from the wonders of Australia’s largest national park, take the road south for a two-and-a-half-hour drive along Kakadu Highway towards the town of Katherine. Revive road-weary legs at its natural thermal springs, set on the banks of the Katherine River, before heading off to discover the myriad wonders of Nitmiluk National Park, just a 30-minute drive away. Explore bushwalking tracks or cruise or kayak your way along the series of 13 gorges that are carved into the ancient sandstone.

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If the often relentlessly long roads of the Top End don’t appeal, follow this easy return trip from Darwin to Litchfield National Park. Heading 75 miles (120km) southwest from the city on sealed roads, you’ll be marvelling at towering magnetic termite mounds and cooling off in sparkling waterholes and under thundering cascades in less than two hours. The park is big though, with plenty to see, so plan to camp overnight to fully explore its monsoon forests, sandstone plateau, creeks and scenic pools.

Stunning waterfalls run down from the park's rugged Tabletop Range, which experienced hikers can explore on the strenuous 24-mile (39km) Tabletop Trek. Shorter routes link off it to Wangi Falls, Walker Creek and the spectacular waterfall of Florence Falls, all designated safe swimming areas. Buley Rockholes, a series of bubbling pools, are an especially delightful spot for a wallow. Litchfield is gorgeous year round, but its falls are at their most spectacular in the wet and early dry season (March to September).

If you want seclusion, red dirt, roadhouses and kangaroos, this epic 500-mile (800km) road trip is the one for you. Take the Flinders Ranges Way from Port Augusta and keep driving into the vast untouched wilderness of the Ikara-Flinders Ranges. You’ll pass historic townships like old railway town Quorn and unfathomably vast sheep stations (stop in at Rawnsley Park Station to watch sheep shearing demos or join guided walking tours) as you edge your way into the ancient sun-baked landscape.

An astonishing sweep of eroded mountain ranges, dramatic gorges, Aboriginal rock art galleries and ancient fossils, the sights you encounter in Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park will be forever etched on your mind. Take to the air to see the incredible natural marvel that is Wilpena Pound – Australia's largest salt lake Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is best seen from a height too. If you have a four-wheel drive, you can drive along part of the legendary outback Oodnadatta Track from Marree to William Creek. From there, carry on two hours west and you’ll reach underground opal mining capital Coober Pedy. Go between May and September for cooler temperatures.

The Eyre Peninsula is where the outback meets the Southern Ocean with spectacular results. Follow the Seafood Frontier road trip route to discover why this less-visited part of South Australia enchants with its sensational seafood, marine life and incredible beaches. Start in Port Lincoln, which sits on Boston Bay – the largest natural harbour in Australia and the country’s seafood capital with a huge southern bluefin tuna industry. It’s also a hub of marine adventures, including the only cage dive with great white sharks in Australia.

From here, it’s an easy 30-minute drive to Coffin Bay where you can eat its eponymous oysters straight from the water – slip on your waders and head out on an oyster farm tour. The wild beaches of Coffin Bay National Park are out of this world: from dune-backed, surf-pounded beaches to sheltered bays, they’re all gorgeous and more often than not empty. From here drive north up the west coast of the peninsula to Elliston on the shores of Waterloo Bay. Follow its eight-mile (13.6km) walking and driving coastal track, for thrilling ocean views from high windswept cliffs peppered with caves. Then head on to Baird Bay where you can swim with playful sea lions and bottlenose dolphins.

As the home of some of the country’s oldest and most renowned wineries, South Australia is the state for oenophiles to navigate to. Happily, its picturesque wine regions are an easy drive from capital Adelaide (also a hotspot for wining and dining). Follow the road trip known as the Epicurean Way to get your fill of the state's top drops and gourmet delights as you spend three days meandering around the vineyards, villages, farmers' markets and restaurants of four fantastic wine regions: McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Barossa and Clare Valley.

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Start your gourmet odyssey an hour south of Adelaide at McLaren Vale, a scenic region wedged between the rolling Mount Lofty Ranges and the Gulf St Vincent beaches. With 80 plus cellar doors, there’s plenty to fill your day. Cycle or hike along the Shiraz Trail, a five-mile (8km) former rail-trail to Willunga, stopping off to sample wines and local produce at cellar doors. Heading back north to Adelaide Hills, known for its cool-climate wines, pretty townships and lush landscapes, the route then continues onto the historic towns and gourmet hotspots of the Barossa Valley and finally the picturesque Clare Valley. Ditch the car again and pedal along the 22-mile (35km) Riesling Trail for countryside views, cellar doors and charming B&Bs.

Skirting along Tasmania’s scenic east coast, this 186-mile (300km) route is best taken over four days or more. Starting at Hobart, the road goes north past dramatic coastlines peppered with stunning and often deserted beaches. The Great Eastern Drive passes four of the state's 19 national parks: Freycinet (white sands, blue waters and pink granite peaks), Douglas-Apsley (forest tracks and gorges with swimming holes), Mount William (which includes the northern section of the dramatic Bay of Fires) and, a 30-minute ferry from the fishing port of Triabunna, the wildlife haven that is Maria Island (convict-era ruins and native species including wombats and Tasmanian devils). 

Other highlights on the Great Eastern Drive are impossibly pretty Wineglass Bay on the Freycinet​ Peninsula and the extraordinary orange lichen-covered granite boulders of the Bay of Fires, where the route ends. There are plenty of places to stay and eat en route, as the road takes in charming laid-back towns (including Orford, Swansea on the Great Oyster Bay and Bicheno) and some of Tasmania's top food and wine producers.

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Take the road south of Hobart instead to follow the Southern Edge road trip. After exploring the historic waterfront capital, head along the Huon Highway and out past the little coves of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, around the bucolic farms and orchards of the pretty Huon Valley and drive right to Australia’s southern-most edge for cliff-top walks and edge-of-the-world feels. This easy drive can be done in a few days, but add a few extra to hop over to Bruny Island. Take the car ferry from Kettering to wend your way around the wild little isle.

Back on the mainland, head south down the coastal road to Cygnet, hub of the Huon Valley with the D'Entrecasteaux Channel on one side and the Huon River on the other. From here you can pootle around farm gates and roadside stalls to sample its famed apples, pears and ciders. From here, head to Cockle Bay to explore Tasmania's secluded southwest wilderness where quite literally the next stop is Antarctica. Park at the end of Australia’s most southerly road and follow the South Coast Track through woods and bushland to the cliffs above South Cape Bay. This four-hour hike will certainly stretch your legs before you head back to Hobart.

After exploring the spectacular scenery of Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake in Tasmania's Central Highlands, take the road less travelled into the island's western wilds. Turning west onto the C132, you’ll cross a stretch of wild open moorland, then head south onto the Murchison Highway. You’ll pass through former mining towns (Tullah and Rosebery) and remote settlements with a convict past that sit on the edge of the vast World Heritage-listed Tasmanian Wilderness Area that cloaks much of the island's west. 

Stop in small town Zeehan to learn about the region’s rich history at the West Coast Heritage Centre and Pioneers Museum and climb Mount Zeehan for sweeping west coast views. Then stretch your legs on the wild windswept expanse of Ocean Beach before driving 40 minutes south to harbourside town Strahan. Now a tourist hub, cruises go into the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park and to notorious convict station Sarah Island. From here, you could either catch the historic West Coast Wilderness Railway through the rainforest to Queenstown, once the world's richest mining town, or wind along the twisty mountainous road to explore its heritage buildings and visit former mines.

Sun- and fun-filled days are a given on the 273-mile (440km) Great Sunshine Way, which stretches north from the buzzy Gold Coast along Queensland's subtropical coastline via Brisbane to Bundaberg. As well as sun-drenched beaches at every turn, you’ll see koalas and whales, eat in fantastic restaurants and pass stunning national parks. Start the trip on a high note by hitting the theme parks of the Gold Coast or learning to surf at Surfers Paradise then hit the M1, AKA Great Sunshine Way.

Spend a night or two in buzzy Brisbane: take the riverside walk and head to Fortitude Valley for hip bars and restaurants. More top food spots and blissful beaches await 90 miles (144km) north in upscale beach town Noosa. Follow the track through Noosa National Park to the headland where koalas are often spotted, and whales pass by. Didn’t spot any? Continue on the road 115 miles (185km) north to Hervey Bay. Around 10,000 humpback whales visit here every year on their annual migration between July and November. Next stop is Bundaberg, where a well-deserved rum awaits your arrival. Take a tour of its famed Bundaberg Rum Distillery.

There are beach roads and then there are actual beach roads. Follow the 236-mile (380km) Great Beach Drive to quite literally track your way along the sand on Queensland's sandy highways. Start in Noosa, where you’ll need to hire a four-wheel drive (make sure the right vehicle access permits are included), then cross Noosa River on the vehicle ferry at Tewantin. From here, take the third beach access road and hit the sands. You’ll go through the Great Sandy Strait Biosphere – stop at Teewah Beach to marvel at its multi-coloured sand cliffs then carry on north on the Leisha Track to cut through the sand dunes to the small coastal resort of Rainbow Beach. 

Stay overnight at seaside resort Rainbow Beach before you take the vehicle barge over to the southern end of World Heritage-listed K’gari (Fraser Island) for a mind-blowing drive along its 75 Mile Beach. This amazing sand highway runs along the island's eastern coast. Park at little township Eurong and head off on foot to explore or keep driving north to Lake Wabby, Eli Creek, the SS Maheno shipwreck, Indian Head (pictured) and Champagne Pools. Camp overnight then track inland to Kingfisher Bay on its west coast to catch the Fraser Island Barge across to River Heads, a 20-minute drive away from Hervey Bay.

After enjoying the sights above and below the waves in Cairns, hit the Captain Cook Highway for a seriously scenic 87-mile (140km) drive along the far north Queensland coast to Cape Tribulation. With white sand, blue waters and offshore islands on one side and emerald-green rainforest on the other, it’s a feast for the eyes. Stop off for lunch or the night at pretty resort Palm Cove, then head on to Port Douglas. This buzzy tropical town has great restaurants, bars and shops and is a top place to head out on boat trips to the outer Great Barrier Reef or to little islands for snorkelling.

Use Port Douglas as a base for exploring the many wonders of Daintree National Park, before taking the vehicle ferry across the Daintree River to Cow Bay. From here it’s a 30-minute stretch to Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the Coral Sea with spectacular effect. Four-wheel drives only can continue from Emmagen Creek north along the scenic but challenging Bloomfield Track to Cooktown (where Captain James Cook came ashore after HMS Endeavour ran aground on the reef). Be sure to visit its museum and take a tour with Indigenous Australian guides to visit the Quinkan Rock Art. Decorating sandstone escarpments near small town Laura, these are one of the best collections of prehistoric rock art in the world.

Queensland isn’t all reef and beach as you’ll discover on this inland route, which winds around the unfathomably picturesque Scenic Rim. The volcanic region encompasses six national parks, World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests, towering mountains, sleepy villages and farmland. Within less than an hour of leaving Gold Coast’s high-rises, you’ll be meandering along narrow roads into lush cool hills and through lovely country towns. Start at North Tamborine on Tamborine Mountain where you can take the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, tour glow worm caves and stock up on local treats from its many distilleries, vineyards and food producers.

Itching to explore the walking trails? Head south through the rainforest-cloaked mountains towards Lamington National Park, part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. In this park alone, 90 miles (160km) of hiking trails lead to no less than 500 waterfalls. For sweeping views of the Lost World plateau (a green shelf on Razorback Mountain), strike out on the Moonlight Crag walk or if time is short get up among the trees on the park's suspension bridge walk. From here, drive west towards Rathdowney to explore the trails that wrap around the rugged peaks and rainforests of Mount Barney National Park.

Victoria’s Great Ocean Road is hands down one of the world’s best driving routes. Officially starting in Torquay and ending at Allansford to the west, the route twists 151 miles (243km) along the Southern Ocean passing surf towns, wild beaches and striking rock formations, before heading inland through undulating rainforest. From Torquay, head to Bells Beach (famed surf spot), Anglesea, Aireys Inlet (take a tour of historic Split Point Lighthouse for thrilling views) and spend the night at lovely beach town Lorne. Stroll to Teddy’s Lookout for more spectacular views and be sure to visit Erskine Falls.

Some of the road’s most coast-hugging sections follow on the drive to Apollo Bay: pull over at the lookouts to peer down to the crashing waves below. You’re likely to spot koalas as you drive, but if you don’t, follow the Grey River Road walk in Kennett River, home to a large population of wild koalas – it's halfway between Lorne and Apollo Bay. After the latter, the road veers into the Great Otway National Park (stop for rainforest strolls and thundering waterfalls) before winding back to the coast and past the famous rock formations of Port Campbell National Park – the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Arch.

With its rolling hills, wineries, sleepy villages and hot springs, the Mornington Peninsula offers the best of both countryside and coast and is where Melburnians go to recharge. Framed by two spectacular coastlines, the peninsula has dramatic surf beaches and sheltered bays, and is scattered with artsy seaside towns. Take the M3 Eastlink Toll Road from the city and in an hour you could be gazing at the region from the top of Arthurs Seat, soaking in the Mornington Peninsula Hot Springs or picking up a pinot from its vineyards.

Pootle around the wineries and award-winning restaurants of the Red Hill and Main Ridge regions. Then for beach time head to Mount Martha, Rosebud and Portsea, all pretty bays backed by colourful beach huts. Scenic seaside town Sorrento near the western tip is a lovely base with plenty to do. From here, you can head towards Point Nepean at the very tip of the Mornington Peninsula: the views across the Bass Strait, the Rip and Port Phillip Bay are mind blowing, as are the walking trails that wind around its old military forts, tunnels and Quarantine Station.

Head into Victoria’s lofty mountain ranges on the Great Alpine Road for a dose of crisp mountain air and big sky views. The route stretches from Wangaratta through the Ovens Valley to Harrietville, up and over the alpine resort of Mount Hotham, then down again to the coastal village of Metung on the Gippsland Lakes. Covering 211 miles (339km) in total, this drive takes you along Australia's highest year-round accessible sealed road. As well as soaring peaks and plunging valleys, you’ll pass Gold Rush-era towns, thick forests, undulating vineyards and wildlife-rich waterways.

Head south of Wangaratta to explore Milawa (known for its great food) and Beechworth, a characterful 19th-century gold rush town, then head up into Mount Buffalo National Park. Here, walking tracks lead to hulking granite formations, waterfalls and lofty lookouts across the Australian Alps. It’s a hub of outdoor activities in both summer and winter. After stopping in charming country town Bright, ascend into Victoria's highest Alpine village, Mt Hotham. Danny's Lookout is the place to admire it all. You could tackle the Razorback Trail to the summit of Mount Feathertop or descend to the lush farmlands and historic buildings of Omeo. The last leg of this drive along the Great Alpine Road takes you to Metung, gateway to the gorgeous Gippsland Lakes. 

The 800-mile (1,250km) Coral Coast Highway from Perth to Exmouth is one of Australia’s ultimate campervan routes, skirting past some of the state’s most spectacular coastal scenery, otherworldly wonders and wildlife encounters, with some brilliant campsites en route. One of the first major stops after leaving Perth is the Pinnacles Desert, followed by the coastal city of Geraldton and onto the rugged landscape of Kalbarri National Park – well worth a stopover for hikes around its plunging gorges and to take the new Kalbarri Skywalk on the rim of Murchison Gorge for dizzying views. 

Next up are the wonders of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area: stroll across Shell Beach, meet the dolphins of Monkey Mia and see some of the oldest living organisms on the planet, the stromatolites at Hamelin Pool. From here it’s back on the North West Coastal Highway to Carnarvon and Coral Bay, where you can swim straight from the beach and out onto the Ningaloo Reef, the world’s longest fringing coral reef. Cape Range National Park just outside Exmouth is a suitably show-stopping end point with its ochre-coloured gorges and reef-fringed turquoise lagoons. Go between March to July, if you can, and you’ll be there when whale sharks arrive to feed on plankton. 

The 410-mile (660km) Gibb River Road is one of Australia’s most legendary four-wheel drive routes, cutting through some of its most remarkable scenery. Accessible only between April and October, the challenging track (which has been sealed in sections recently) is a short cut between Derby in the west Kimberley and Kununurra in the east, taking drivers into the heart of the northern Kimberley plateau. You can do the full route, best taken over 12 days, or explore parts on a long weekend.

However far along the route you go, you're in for a truly breathtaking journey through sunburnt sandstone ranges, rivers and boab-dotted savannah country. There are plenty of places to sleep along the way, from camps to luxury lodges on unfeasibly large cattle stations like Drysdale River Station and Home Valley Station, as well as El Questro Wilderness Park. Cool off from dusty drives in sparkling waterholes, hike to dazzling gorges like Adcock Gorge (passing ancient rock art along bush tracks) and feel dwarfed by the majestic orange cliffs of the Cockburn Range.

Follow the road south alongside the Indian Ocean from Perth in southern Western Australia for wildlife, wines, white-sand beaches, waves and towering trees. This is the epic South West Edge road trip that takes in some of the state’s most extraordinary landscapes. First up is go-to gourmet destination Margaret River, famed for its wineries, farmers' markets and surf-pounded beaches. Be sure to walk some of the spectacular coastal stretch that runs from the wind-lashed lighthouses of Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin.

If time allows, follow the road on as it curves around onto Western Australia’s southern coast. Stop to hike through the tingle trees in the Walpole-Nornalup National Park forest – these giant eucalypts are found nowhere else on Earth – and swim in the gorgeous Greens Pool in William Bay National at Denmark. More epic coastal scenery follows on Hamersley Drive, a scenic route that wends through Fitzgerald River National Park to Hopetoun. From here, it’s two hours to Esperance, on the edge of Cape Le Grand National Park, where resident kangaroos can be seen hopping about Lucky Bay’s gleaming sand.

Western Australia’s Northern Wheatbelt region is glorious road-trip territory at any time of the year, but go from July to October and you’ll be there when the landscape bursts into bloom during the wildflower season. Follow the Wildflower Way from Dalwallinu, a quiet farming town, and head 192 miles (309km) north to Geraldton, passing through traditional townships along the way. One of the first spots you’ll reach is Petrudor Rocks where you can see everlastings, wattles and wild orchids around the pools and granite formations.

Heading onwards, visit Wubin, Buntine Rock, Latham or Caron Dam before arriving at the Wheatbelt town of Perenjori, heart of the wildflower region where pink, yellow and white everlastings carpet the countryside in spring. There’s plenty to do in the sheep-and-wheat farming town, including walking trails – follow the one to John Forrest Lookout for incredible views of the surrounding station country. Carry on north along the Wubin Mullewa Highway to Morawa, Mullewa and finally, breezy coastal city Geraldton, all with their own picturesque wildflower sites.

Stretching 87 miles (140km) south from Sydney, the Grand Pacific Drive is a blockbuster of a coastal route. First up is the Royal National Park, the oldest in Australia, with its walking trails to wild beaches. The highway continues south, over the famously photogenic Sea Cliff Bridge, which bends around towering cliffs and past the coastal towns of Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama. Stay overnight here and follow the Kiama Coastal Walk to see its famous blowhole, surf beaches and pretty bays – the lesser known Little Blowhole lies further south.

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From Sydney, take the Hume Highway 70 miles (112km) southwest to Bowral, the largest town in the Southern Highlands. Bowral is packed with genteel shops and gourmet restaurants and cricket fans will love the Bradman Museum (you can also visit his childhood home). This rural region is all rolling green hills and farmlands, scattered with charming villages and cellar doors. Just to the west of Bowral lies historic township Berrima, home to the oldest continuously licenced pub in Australia, the Surveyor General Inn. Take the river walk and call in at the Bendooley Estate for wine tasting and book browsing (it has an amazing book barn). 

The region has over 60 vineyards that specialise in cool-climate varieties and 15 cellar doors – follow the wine trail to visit some of the best. It has beautiful bushland and waterfall walks too (keep an eye out for koalas). A couple of hours south of Berrima is Morton National Park, where you should walk to Fitzroy Falls before heading northeast for more stunning waterfalls and kayaking adventures in Kangaroo Valley – you'll cross over the gorgeous 19th-century Hampden Bridge. Then drive east towards the coast via picturesque Berry to join the stunning Grand Pacific Drive north back towards Sydney.

The Blue Mountains can easily be visited in a day from Sydney but make a long weekend of it to see more of the incredible region. Head out along the Great Western Highway from Sydney to Leura and Katoomba, two charming towns in the upper mountains and where most visitors gravitate. Echo Point Lookout is the place to go to see the Three Sisters, the dramatic sandstone peaks that soar over Jamison Valley. At Scenic World you can take the cable car across the valley or head down on the world's steepest railway to explore the trails below. 

Continue the short distance on the Great Western Highway towards Blackheath, then take the winding Megalong Valley Road through rainforest to explore this lovely pastoral valley with its delightful tearooms and horse-riding trails. Back on the highway, stop off at Hassan’s Walls (the highest lookout in the Greater Blue Mountains), and follow the winding road down to the mesmerising Jenolan Caves, said to be the most ancient caverns in the world. From here wend your way back the way you came or go via Bilpin instead and through the Hawkesbury region to stop off at historic riverside settlements and national parks – and try your hand at kayaking – before heading south down the Pacific Highway back to Sydney.

There's a reason this long-distance road-trip north from Sydney to Byron Bay is named the Legendary Pacific Coast drive. The full route is 497 miles long (800km) and passes surf towns, historic cities and wildlife-rich national parks, but you can get a taste of it along a three-hour section from Sydney to Blueys Beach in mid-north coast. Once you’ve crossed the Hawkesbury River, and weaved past the Central Coast’s beachside towns (Ettalong Beach, Terrigal and The Entrance), you'll reach cool coastal city Newcastle. From here, a detour to sample semillon and shiraz in the Hunter Valley is very much recommended. 

Next stop is Port Stephens – a huge sweep of a bay known for its giant sand dunes, dolphin tours and koala habitats. From here, head up along the Pacific Highway towards the mid-north coast, taking the exit onto the Lakes Way to the Great Lakes region. There are seven dazzling beaches to hop between, including surfer's hangout Blueys, Boomerang and Elizabeth Beach (part of Booti Booti National Park) and three coastal lagoon systems, including the magnificent Myall Lakes, to explore.

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